1. What are the ages of the children available for adoption and are
they healthy?
The average age of the infants we place may be an infant under one year,
toddler and young child. Older children are available from Kazakhstan.Refer to Qualifications to see the age of infant/child
you may qualify for.
The infants and children are generally healthy. As they have been
in an orphanage/institutional setting, it is not uncommon for them
to have physical or developmental delays, colds, upper respiratory
infections, rashes, etc. Most adoptive families report that their children
flourished in their development shortly after placement.
2. How long will it take to complete the adoption?
The adoption process has several different steps and the length of
time it takes to complete those steps is dependent on several factors.
The following is an estimate of those steps.
Application/Homestudy:
2-3months
Dossier
and USCIS approval: 1-3 months
Wait
for Invitation to Travel after Dossier is registered: 4-5 months (varies)
Travel
to Kazakhstan: One trip or Two trips
Travel to Almaty (US Consulate) 3-4 business days
Stay
in Kazakhstan: one trip 45+ days or two trips (first trip for 'bonding period' and second trip to bring your child home)
two trips (first trip for bonding period, second to bring your child home)
Please note that the home study, dossier and USCIS processes are completed
simultaneously.
3. Will we receive a referral of a child?
Families are invited to travel to Kazakhstan to select
a child. There will not be information available on a particular child prior to your travel to Kazakhstan. Information on the child, including medical information and photo, would be available once families travel to the region where the child is located.
4. After we are invited to travel to Kazakhstan, who makes the travel
arrangements? Do we travel in groups or on our own?
The agency will work closely with you to get your input as much as
possible to accommodate you with your travel plans, but ultimately must make arrangements that are necessary to complete the adoption. While the agency
assists with the travel arrangements, we recognize that this trip should
reflect the personal preferences of our families, if possible. Understand
that due to the type of travel required and the short amount of notice
given, travel may occur quickly!
You will most likely travel alone. This is due in part to the number
of families traveling at different times. Whether you travel in a small
group or on your own, please know there is always a guide(s) assisting
you throughout the process.
5. When does my child become a United States Citizen?
Your child will become an U.S. Citizen upon entering into the United
States. If only 1 parent of a couple travels to Kazakhstan, then
you must re-adopt in the U.S. for your child to obtain citizenship.
6. What is the Certificate of Citizenship and why do I need it?
While
your child automatically becomes a U.S. citizen upon entering the U.S.,
you still will need to obtain proof of citizenship. This
is accomplished by completing form N643 available through the Bureau
of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Having the Certificate of Citizenship will assist you in applying
for your child’s
social security card and U.S. passport.
For more information or questions please contact : cindi@familytreeadoption.org
